AN: This came to me when I was watching clips from The Little Mermaid.

Every Sunset

Chapter One – I Love You

Ariel could see the washed-up body on the shore and she felt the tears slide down her cheeks. They couldn't be together. She had changed everything, messed everything up. Ariel could see him moving, he was alive. He was alive and he had saved them but she was a mermaid and he was a human. It didn't make sense and would only lead to heartache. Although she could live with that just for those few moments to be with him, it was wrong of her to expect the same from him.

Ariel sat on the rock and watched as Max came and licked Eric's face, pressing his nose against Eric's shoulder. Eric slowly sat up and Ariel put a hand to her chest. She wanted so much to be with him but they were different species. It wouldn't work.

"If I could dance with you, life would be perfect," she shakily sang, feeling the rush of pain in her chest but she tried to continue singing, "If I could live with you, life would be perfect. If I could spend every day of my life, wrapped up in your arms. My life would be perfect. And if I could love with you, lif-" her voice broke and she struggled to sing anymore so bowed her head, tears spilling down as she clutched to the rock. "Life would be perfect."

She tried to jump from the rock but felt something grab her hand and then felt strong male hands holding the rock and looked to see Eric treading water there. He had so much love and desire already in his eyes. "Please," he whispered as he looked up at her and Ariel pulled him to the rock, jumping into the sea. That was the way things were supposed to be. "Please don't go again."

"Can't you see me?" she asked painfully as she placed a hand on his cheek. He was exhausted and yet he had swum this far so he could speak with her. Maybe he was as crazy as she was. He looked at her again, that affectionate expression not changing. "We…I must look disgusting to you."

"What are you talking about?" Eric asked sadly as he let his fingers push her hair back and leaned forwards, "May I kiss you?" he asked and Ariel looked at him.

"The spell won't work," she told him and Eric blinked. "I'm not going to -"

"I don't care," he said and Ariel stared at him shocked. "You are not disgusting or anything of the sort. May I kiss you?" he repeated and Ariel nodded slowly, she felt Eric's warm lips against hers and it felt as if they were truly destined for one another but how could that be, he was a human, she was a mermaid. "I couldn't find you because you're a mermaid, of course you didn't live in this kingdom," he told her as they broke apart.

"So you know that we can't be together," Ariel protested and saw the pain and confusion appear on his face. "Eric, I don't have legs, I have -"

"I know," he nodded. "You have a beautiful tail. Why should that matter to me?" he asked her and Ariel felt herself crying again. Why was he being like this? He should be running away in shock. He shouldn't be saying these words or kissing her.

"Are you feeling strong enough to swim to shore?" she asked and he froze, his eyes widened but he nodded slowly and Ariel took his hand, swimming with him to the dividing line between them. She felt a joy within her as his hand slowly and very gently ran over her tail. "You belong on the land. I belong in the sea."

"Belong," Eric asked as he saw Ariel try to swim away exposing her tail to him once again. He rushed after her and dropped down onto his knees, the water level just below his waist. "I don't know where I belong anymore, this is all new information to me but I want to be as close to you as possible. I want to belong with you," he said and pulled her towards him in an embrace. He didn't care that her tail was pressing against his knees, in fact, he embraced the feeling. "I don't have gills or anything," he said and Ariel sadly stared at him. "I don't have a beautiful, stunning tail but I will make a promise to you," he told her and Ariel looked at him as he took her hand placing it to his heart and he placed his hand on hers.

"Every day or every night, whichever is best for you. I'll come here. I'll come to this very spot where we met and I'll be with you….I love you," he said and Ariel stared at him.

"Isn't that a sacrifice?" she asked and his hand moved to her tail again, spreading over the scales but only deep love and passion could be seen in his expression, not disgust or dislike.

"Not more of a sacrifice than losing you," he said. "I don't know if my legs are disgusting to you but if you'll let me, I want to come here once every day."

"Sunset," she whispered, "I know when it's sunset under the water," she told him, "You know when it's sunset up on the land, but Eric, this will never work."

"Sunset," he repeated committing it to memory. "Every sunset, no matter what they want or expect me to do, every sunset, I'll come here. I'll be with you for as long as you want. I just can't lose you again."

"You belong to a fishing community," she said and Eric froze.

"Your frie-" he said and Ariel put a hand to his lips.

"No, this isn't about the other fish," she whispered. "Well except Flounder. Flounder's my best friend, a fish," she said and Eric nodded trying to grasp these concepts. "If someone were to find out. If someone were to see me. Who knows what they'd do to get my tail," she said sadly and Eric's jaw dropped, he shook his head quickly.

"I would never let anyone hurt you," he told her, "Never. I love you. I will never stop protecting you," he tried to assure her and Ariel smiled sadly.

"I love you too," she said and he pulled her into his arms. Hugging her and pressing kisses to the side of her head. He held her as close as possible.

"Promise me you'll come back?" he asked her and Ariel nodded. She gazed lovingly into his eyes.

"Of course," she promised as she swam towards the land and Eric followed her, seeing her full tail but he didn't care. He gently placed his hand on it. This was what made Ariel who she was. "Are you certain about this?" she asked as she held his hand on her tail and felt his finger rub gently over a scale. "Can't you see how different we are?"

"Can't you see how similar we are?" Eric argued. "Sunset," he told her as his hand gently tucked her gorgeous red hair behind her ear. Ariel nodded sadly and Eric placed his fingers under her chin, bringing her lips to his again. She smiled in a painful but still loving, desiring, way. She dove into the water again and started to swim off.

Eric stood, not caring how soaked his clothes were. He moved backwards until his back pressed against the rocks and Max came over to him. Eric gently petted the sheepdog's head. "I'm in love with a mermaid, Max," he said in awe but he had a look on his face that proved he loved Ariel unconditionally. "Can you believe that?" he smiled as Max jumped up and licked his cheek. "I'm in love with a beautiful, intelligent, kind, wonderful mermaid." Max barked at him joyfully and Eric blinked as he stared in the direction she had just been.

"I wonder what kind of gifts I can give her," he said as he felt the sun shining above him as it rose higher. "I guess flowers and chocolates won't work this time," he joked, his eyesight caught in the direction in which he had last seen her. "Sunset," he repeated. "I'll see you at sunset. I love you, Ariel."

End of Chapter One

Thank you for reading, reviews are appreciated

AN 2: I'd like your opinion. Should I eventually make Eric a merman or would that be too similar to my previous fic. I would handle it a little differently but don't want to give more of the same.